Charleston Daily Mail's Mike Casazza tweeted today that affiliate discussions between West Virginia Radio Corp. and IMG College for the "Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG" (MSN branding will stay on WVU broadcasts per the IMG Contract, obtained today through FOIA by the Daily Mail) have broken down. No word if talks will resume.

With 14 WVRC O&O's among the 45 stations on the former Mountaineer Sports Network, it will be interesting to see where/how IMG College will fill gaps in WVU coverage if WVRC stations aren't part of the network. In Charleston, does Bristol land West Virginia IMG coverage for WQBE or Electric 102.7? Makes sense, since Bristol has an existing relationship with IMG College as a Marshall affiliate (WVTS 94.5/1240). Or does LM try to make a play to get the Mountaineers on Rock 105?

Elkins/Buckhannon and Keyser/Romney/Cumberland present big challenges for IMG College, with WVRC-stations dominating the landscape in those areas.

Casazza also reports that IMG is heavy in negotiations with WVU play-by-play man Tony Caridi to retain him for IMG-related radio and television work with the Mountaineers. Offer has been extended and the decision is Tony's, Casazza tweets based upon information from sources. If Caridi were to sign a deal with IMG College, the big unknown is how this deal would impact Caridi's continued professional relationship with WV Radio Corporation and its creative/video production firm, Pikewood Creative.

IMG per-/post-game broadcast window for radio:
"IMG will be required to produce a 60-minute pre-game and 30-minute post-game show, though the contract said WVU would like the company to try to expand that to a two-hour pre-game and one-hour post-game show, if possible," writes Hunt

Exclusivity and its impact on MetroNews: In its contract with WVU, IMG is granted "exclusive broadcast, market, production and distribution rights for terrestrial radio, satellite radio or Internet radio for an audio-only weekly and/or daily show or programming related to WVU athletics." This includes the coaches "call-in" shows for football and men's basketball. The University will authorize no individual radio stations or other networks to broadcast similar programming." So, what's the impact on MetroNews SportsLine and its ability to feature interviews/appearances by WVU Coaches? Under the terms of the contract, WVU "shall prohibit its coaches from participating in any related or competitive radio programs; provided, however, IMG's exclusive rights hereunder shall not prohibit University coaches from participating in other broadcasters' interviews, so long as coaches agree to such interviews, each of which shall be less than 10 minutes, non-compensating, occasional and non-recurring." Which means, Mountaineer coaches wouldn't necessarily be prohibited from appearing on MetroNews programming, but likely not with the frequency they have in the past.

IMG's exclusive use of WVU facilities: The contract prohibits other entities not affiliated with the IMG radio network from broadcasting on or at a WVU athletic facility during game days, or allow any other entity to broadcast in any way from a university athletic facility without the prior approval of IMG. This means no more WVAQ-FM live remotes or MetroNews broadcasts originating from Milan Puskar Stadium or the WVU Coliseum. WV MetroNews programs like "The Sports Brunch" would have to originate from either the Morgantown studios or a local restaurant/bar on game days. This provision in the contract excludes visiting schools and broadcast productions for their primary radio networks. This clause also wouldn't impact national broadcasts (ESPN Radio College GameDay, Fox Sports Radio) that may originate at WVU athletic facilities with IMG approval.

Network pre-/post-game coverage:WVU stipulates in IMG's licensee obligations for programs that all football games will include a 60 minute pre-game and 30 minute post-game show on the radio network. WVU officials also outline their desire to see IMG increase the network programming window to 120 minutes pre-game and 60 minutes post-game. If indeed MetroNews moves forward with its traditional pre-/post-game coverage for 2013, it will be interesting to see how quickly WVU ramps up IMG's efforts to expand the network window.

Caridi's future at WV Radio: Looking at all the broadcast inventory outlined in the IMG contract, you have to wonder how Tony Caridi could remain at WV Radio and continue his duties with IMG. Beyond the play-by-play duties, Caridi (or whomever IMG hires) will play a central role in production of the coaches call-in shows and daily reports for the IMG's WVU radio and digital content, as well as additional television obligations that will include pre-/post-season specials, signing day special, pre-game shows (if not in conflict with live game play-by-play agreements), and a weekly magazine show (like the former Mountaineer Magazine) that will air when the Coaches Shows are not produced. The Charleston Daily Mail reports that IMG has made Caridi a "lucrative" offer. If he leaves, it would be interesting to see who else may follow Caridi out the door. Key MSN production personnel are also on the Pikewood Creative/WV Radio payroll and will likely become other IMG targets.

Last edited by unchoopfan on Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:39 am, edited 2 times in total.

As reported by the Charleston Daily Mail's Jared Hunt, WMTD, Hinton and WRLF-FM/WTCS-AM, Fairmont are the first stations to ink affiliate deals with IMG.

IMG Audio also announced Friday it will expand network pre- and post-game radio coverage from the 90 minutes that was produced in the past by West Virginia Radio/MSN to a combined five-and-a-half hours of coverage (3:30 pre-game show, 2:00 post-game).

WVU Sports Communications removed all MSN-related web content from the WVUSports.com website over the weekend. As of Monday morning (7/29), the Football/Men's Basketball radio network affiliate list includes only the three stations that signed affiliate agreements last week (as reported by the Charleston Daily Mail).

WELD-FM in Fisher, WVOW-AM/WVOW-FM in Logan, WKQR-FM in Mullens, and WETZ-AM/WYMJ-FM in New Martinsville have agreed to carry IMG-produced WVU broadcasts for the upcoming sports season, IMG officials announced Tuesday. Each of the stations has agreed to air WVU football and men's basketball games along with their respective coaches' shows and a daily "Mountaineer Minute" report.

“Affiliate reaction to the new network continues to be very strong, and we are very excited to welcome these additional station groups to the Mountaineers broadcasts,” said Chris Ferris, Vice President, Broadcasting, IMG College.

It'll be interesting to see what Clear Channel - Huntington does. WVHU 800 AM has been carrying wvu's football and basketball games, but only the 30 minute pregame show, no postgame show and no coaches shows. Will the new network take them under those conditions or will WVHU start carrying the coaches' shows and more game programming? The coaches shows would take an evening hour from the tape-delayed airing of the syndicated Dave Ramsey Show. The pregame and postgame shows would likely take time from Clear Channel's Weekend show and the best of Hannity or Limbaugh that WVHU airs on Saturday afternoons.

There's not really anywhere else to go to put WVU sports in the Huntington market....

WRVC 930AM & 94.1 FM (Supertalk) carries the Statewide Sportsline from Morgantown every evening (6-7) as part of WV Metronews. It's very wvu-focused show, mostly hosted by Caridi during the fall/winter. WRVC has a very Marshall-focused local show before it from 4-6 PM with Woody Woodrum and Paul Swann. WRVC pre-empts the Statewide Sportsline on Thursdays during the football and basketball season, running H-D (Herald-Dispatch) radio from 6-7 as a lead-in to the Marshall coaches' shows from 7-8. H-D Radio features Kindred owner Mike Kirtner, Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick and Chuck Landon, columnist for the Herald-Dispatch.

Marshall's games and coaches' shows are also productions of IMG-College.

"It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much." - Yogi Berra

The rumored hangup in Caridi's negotiations has been discussion over his continued role with WV Radio Corp. and the Statewide Sportsline broadcast. IMG was rumored to be considering a competing nightly 6 p.m. sports talk show on its network of WVU affiliates, but Caridi indicated Friday that he's 'confident' he'll be continuing as host of his weeknight program on the MetroNews Radio Network. “Sportsline has a very strong legion of listeners. I think the program has been a lot of fun for me, and a lot of people across the state appreciate it. I think it’s grown through the years, and they kind of count on it," Caridi told the Register-Herald.

Caridi will serve as radio play-by-play announcer for football and men’s basketball and will host these sports’ respective coaches’ shows for IMG. Caridi will also host a television show to be developed covering WVU sports produced by the Mountaineer Sports Network. Under terms of Caridi’s agreement, he will continue to appear on MetroNews Radio Network's “Northside Automotive Statewide Sportsline."

“I’m excited to continue my relationship with the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG and the wonderful and passionate fans that love the Mountaineers,” Tony Caridi said. “It’s an honor and privilege to be associated with a network that’s always been respected as one of the nation’s best, particularly as coverage of Mountaineer sports now expands.”

No announcement from IMG today on additional talent for the WVU broadcasts. One member of the prior football broadcast team rumored to be returning is analyst Jed Drenning. It is unknown if football color man Dwight Wallace will return for 2013.

Four additional affiliates have also signed on with IMG to carry Mountaineer games, bringing the total number of MSN affiliates to 20. The latest stations to sign affiliate agreements are: WDBS-FM/WKQV-FM, Sutton; WRON, Ronceverte; WVBD, Fayetteville.

More IMG Fallout: A new Mountaineer women's play-by-play voice will emerge with Travis Jones' departure, as he moves down I-79 to become the new play-by-play voice of Fairmont State athletics. Jones is expected to continue his duties as Operations Manager for WV Radio Corp's Clarksburg division (aka: AJG Corporation - Fairmont State's media partner). Former MetroNews anchor and current WVU Foundation administrator Bill Nevin will assume PA duties for Milan Puskar Stadium, where Jones had served as the venue's PA voice since 2003. Nevin has served as the PA voice for the WVU Men's Basketball games at the WVU Coliseum since 2003 and as the voice of The Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band, since 2005, succeeding the late Frank 'Doc' Stevens in both roles.

Last edited by unchoopfan on Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:06 am, edited 2 times in total.

The latest stations to sign on to MSN include: WCBC-AM/FM, Cumberland, MD; WCEF-FM, Ripley; WVHU-AM, Huntington; WVRC AM/FM, Spencer; WWVA-AM/WBBD-AM, Wheeling; and Allegheny Mountain Radio non-commercial stations WCHG-FM, Hot Springs, Va., WNMP-FM, Marlinton; WVLS-FM, Monterey and WVMR-AM/FM, Dunmore/Hillsboro. All the stations will air football and men’s basketball along with their respective coaches’ shows and a daily “Mountaineer Minute” report, with the exception of Allegheny Mountain Radio's non-commercial stations which will carry football only.

Of the 35 MSN affiliates announced thus far, 26 were MSN football affiliates in 2012. IMG College has yet to announce deals with affiliates in the following markets, where MSN broadcast were heard last season: Buckhannon, Charleston, Clarksburg, Danville, Elkins, Keyser, Parkersburg, Pittsburgh, Romney, Summersville, Weirton.